Politics
INEC Dismisses Calls for Chairman’s Removal
…….Defends Compliance with Court of Appeal Judgment on ADC Crisis
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has firmly rejected calls for the removal of its Chairman, Professor Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, describing them as a distraction and an assault on the commission’s constitutional independence.
In a strongly worded press release issued on Wednesday, INEC clarified that the Chairman’s appointment, tenure, and removal are strictly governed by Section 157 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), and not subject to the whims of any political party or interest group.
The commission’s reaction follows public statements by some political actors accusing INEC of partisan bias over its decision to comply with a recent Court of Appeal judgment concerning the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
INEC explained that it chose to obey the appellate court’s ruling to avoid a repeat of the situations in Zamfara and Plateau states, where elected officials were removed by election tribunals due to disobedience of court judgments.
The commission further stated that proceeding to monitor the congress and convention of the David Mark-led ADC faction would have amounted to disobeying a preservative order of the Federal High Court, which restrained INEC from taking any steps that could render pending processes nugatory. The matter, according to INEC, is currently before the court for accelerated hearing.
“Section 287(2) of the 1999 Constitution mandates every person and authority in Nigeria to obey and enforce judgments of the Court of Appeal,” the release emphasised.
INEC also addressed allegations of undermining the multi-party system, pointing out that under Professor Amupitan’s leadership, it has registered and recognised three new political parties — the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and National Democratic Party (NDP) — bringing the total number of active political parties in Nigeria to 22.
The commission described this as “an empirical rebuttal to any claim of a one-party agenda,” insisting it remains a neutral regulator rather than a participant in political competition.
On updates to party leadership records, INEC said its actions are guided solely by subsisting court orders and the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, and it would not allow itself to be drawn into internal party conflicts.
Voter Revalidation Exercise Not Politically Motivated
INEC also moved to dispel what it called misconceptions surrounding the planned nationwide voter revalidation exercise.
The commission clarified that the decision to revalidate the voters’ register predates the appointment of Professor Amupitan and is a professional necessity aimed at sanitising the National Register of Voters, which currently contains data from 2011 to 2024.
The exercise, which is not a fresh registration but an administrative audit, seeks to address issues such as transfers, multiple registrations, and deceased persons. It will be conducted in phases across all local government areas and polling units, with digital options for ease of access.
INEC stressed that the revalidation is uniform and transparent, and “not targeted at any region, party, or demographic.”
Focus on Upcoming Off-Cycle Elections
The electoral body said it remains focused on conducting credible off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti State in June 2026 and Osun State in August 2026, and would not be distracted by unfounded allegations of bias or collusion.
“Our allegiance remains solely to the Constitution and the will of the Nigerian people,” the statement declared.
INEC reiterated its commitment to free, fair, credible, and inclusive elections, describing calls for Professor Amupitan’s resignation as misplaced.
The press release was e-signed by Adedayo Oketola, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman.
Politics
Breaking: Tinubu orders EFCC to unfreeze Osun Govt account
Tinubu said that although he was yet to be fully briefed on the facts that informed the EFCC’s decision to approach the court for the freezing order, he believed the timing of the action was inappropriate.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately approach the court to vacate the order freezing the accounts of the Osun State Government.
The President’s directive followed the controversy generated by the EFCC’s move to freeze the state government’s accounts, coming days before the Osun State governorship election.
In a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu said he was concerned about the timing of the action, noting that steps taken by federal institutions are often attributed to him as President, even when he may not have prior knowledge of such actions.
Tinubu said that although he was yet to be fully briefed on the facts that informed the EFCC’s decision to approach the court for the freezing order, he believed the timing of the action was inappropriate.
” Osun State is only a few days away from its gubernatorial election. Therefore, nothing ought to be done to give an impression that the EFCC or indeed any other agency of the Federal Government is being used to interfere with the election,” he said.
The President said that he was compelled to intervene in the matter in the overriding public interest to preserve confidence in the integrity, credibility and fairness of the democratic process.
Politics
Atiku Condemns Freezing Osun Govt’s Account On The Eve Of Election
” The decision could disrupt governance, delay the payment of workers’ salaries, affect the delivery of essential public services and create an atmosphere of intimidation ahead of the polls,” said Atiku.
African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the freezing of the Osun State Government’s statutory allocation account by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a statement issued on Thursday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku questioned the timing of the action, arguing that freezing the state’s principal operational account just days before the election raises concerns about the neutrality of institutions expected to uphold the rule of law.
” The decision could disrupt governance, delay the payment of workers’ salaries, affect the delivery of essential public services and create an atmosphere of intimidation ahead of the polls,” said Atiku.
“It is impossible to ignore the implications of freezing a state’s principal operational account on the eve of a governorship election,” he said.
The former vice president maintained that while anti-corruption agencies have a duty to investigate alleged wrongdoing, such actions must follow due process and should not create the impression that state institutions are being used to influence political contests.
Chairman of the Campaign Committee of the Imole Youth Mobilisation Council, David Adeleke (popularly known as Davido), has advocated for peaceful and violence-free elections in Osun State.
He made the call while addressing the leadership of the Imole Youth Mobilisation Council, including representatives of student unions and youth parliaments, at the Imole Campaign House in Osogbo.
Davido urged contestants and their supporters to embrace peace and allow the votes of genuine electorate to determine the winner of the election.
He also appealed to the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, in his capacity as Chairman of the Osun APC National Campaign Committee, to uphold democratic principles and ensure electoral integrity during the polls in the state.
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